Holiday traffic was brought to a halt after a head-on collision on the Coquihalla Highway 5 Monday afternoon.
The accident happened just before 1 p.m. about 12 kilometres south of Merritt, forcing the closure of both north and southbound lanes.
The driver of the car was airlifted by air ambulance to hospital. Four others were injured in the crash, but all injuries are described as non-threatening.
The car was cut in two by the impact, leaving the front end remaining on the highway.
Police say the car crossed the highway median into the path of an oncoming pickup truck with four people inside. The police say the female driver is very lucky to survive.
"By looking at the vehicle, if there were other occupants in the vehicle it would have been different," Const. Colin Brandt of the RCMP Highway Patrol said.
Long weekend holiday traffic was backed up for kilometres as emergency crews cleared away the remnants of the accident. The roadway was re-opened about an hour and a half later on the northbound side.
Investigators are now tasked with finding out what caused the driver of the car to lose control.
"At this point in time, we don't have any idea. It's under investigation," Brandt said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat
